The Hawaiian gazette., 1887-10-11
Iahainnluna.

EDITOR GAZErTE:-A controversy seems to
be going on over the action of the Board of
Education in the Lahainaluna matter. Will
you permit me to take hand in it.
qnite agree with Mr.. Judd, that Lahaina-
luna should afford a scope for higher educa-
ton. Bnt a question arises as to what are
the higher branches. The correspondent,
whose letter Mar. Judd translates, classes
them as geometry, surveying. etc. If this
CorresT ondent be a student or graduate OF
LahainaIuna, it Is unfortunate that his letter
requires translation. Is not the acquisition
OF the English language a species of culture!
The sympathy expressed for Mr.. Hitchcock
seems perfectly natural and proper, but why
should It be expressed at the expense of the
new principal? What necessity exists of invl-
dious comparisons between a principal whose
experience has expired and one whose lncum-
bency has not fairly commenced? Mr..
Moore's successful experience as an educator
sufficiently vindicates him against any such
anonymous censorship. Without at all de-
tracing from Mr.. Hitchcock's merits, ven
ture the opinion that Lahainaluna will lose
nothing of its prestige by this change.
| for one hail this reorganization as an
advance in educational reform. Putting the
instructors out of sight and judging Laha-
inauna by results, we notice that there
has been a large amount of advanced
instruction without corresponding amount
of advanced education. We have seen
graduates who have studied surveying
without becoming surveyors, political coon
omy without becoming political economists,
who have nibbled at mental and moral philos-
ophy without appreciable benefit to them
selves or mankind. | assert, without fear of
contradiction, that large amount of these
so-called higher branches have heretofore
been forced on minds not properly prepared
to receive them. Boys who could not frame
decent English sentences have been treated
to the subtleties of logic, philosophy and
political science. How can anything like ex-
celience in these branches be expected from
pupils who do not comprehend the English
and diction in which the ideas are couched
To me it seems a senseless masquerade in
the halls of knowledge, and the time must
arrive for unmasking.
These Door students have been staggering
under burdens of advanced learning which
their elementary training does not qualify
them to carry. am not member of, nor
in the confidence of the Board of Education.
But do not believe that the Board has any
desire to clip the wings of genius. do not
believe it contemplates limiting the height
to which the native intellect may soar. But
| believe it appreciates the distinction be-
tween being tossed up and flying. believe
it is awake to the difference between stufing
and culture. A reasonable proficiency in the
English language, and facile use of 1t as
means of conveying ideas, is the first requi-
site for undertaking advanced study in the
same language.
Summon the alumni of Lahainaluna, the
expert surveyors, the famous geometricians,
the logicians and the political economists
who have dazzled (?) our little world, to
grand reunion. Invite them to hold forth IN
English, and you shall listen to burlesque
on our tongue that would disgrace our ordi-
nary Government schools. And should you
protest against the horrible massacre of all
that is dear to you in rhetoric, you will be
told that these daring Adventures in the
pursuit of knowledge had no time for the ac-
quirement of more appropriate and elegant
forms OF expression, as they were engrossed
in higher studies
Now this is no overdrawn picture, but a
photograph on the spot. That such an inju-
dicious employment of educational facilities
has been allowed to go on for so long is to be
deplored That the present Board of Educa-
ton perceives the difference between texture
and tinsel, gold and glitter, and reality and
humbug, will ever be told to its credit. The
Board is right in restricting this chase after
knowledge to the attainable, and the students
of Lahainaluna have no right to lay hands,
red with the gore of grammar and rhetoric
on such subjects as logic, philosophy, etc
1t would be just as rational to skip pupils
from the primary to the high school. No
one wishes to deny advanced education to
the nation, but every ltrue educator desires
results more substantial and less SNOWY.
As the Board of Education is very busy
promoting the welfare of our schools, build
ing new school houses and raising the sala-
ries of deserving teachers, / have appeared
as its unauthorized champion IN this contro-
versy and trust that my explanation may be
satisfactory both to the translator and the
translated. DoN QUTxoTE.